Bicycle Mechanics - Road bike double sided clipless pedals

Good day all

A very newbie question for you all regarding clipless pedals. Performing a search of the forums it appears Mountain bike style pedals are generall double-sided, while road are not. Am I correct that you can clip in with the pedal facing in one direction with road pedals?

With the Shimano PD-R600, PD-R535 in particular can they only be used on one side?

Sorry for the really silly question... Its just easier here than ringing up the LBS :)

I find the current pedals on my Specialized Sequoia with SPD-R on one side and platform on the other a bit dangerous when trying to clip in quickly to go at a traffic light.

Any suggestions on a easy to clip in to, comfortable road pedal that is double sided?

Many single-sided roadbike pedals are weighted thus supposedly avoiding the need for having them double-sided. That said, I prefer double-sided pedals so I use the Speedplay Zeros (http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.zero). All Speedplay pedals are double-sided and although the Frogs are considered to be an MTB pedal, many people have used them on roadbikes too. I did for a while but I found I didn't like all that much float and the cleats were incompatible with my shoes without goofy adapters so I switched to Zeros.

Other double-sided pedals commonly found on roadbikes include the Bebop (http://www.bebop.com/), EggBeaters (http://www.crankbrothers.com/products/pedals.php) and Coombe (http://www.coombe.com/coombe_pro_pedal_system.html) pedals

Ooops, khuon beat me to it :D

Both of those Shimano models are one-sided, yep. The Speedplay X-series road pedals are double-sided, very light, and have extreme corning clearance, but they also have a very free-floating feel that may take some getting used to.

You might consider some mountain-oriented pedals as an alternative. I like the Shimanos for their durable ball-&-roller spindle bearings (not ball-&-sleeve like many of the competitors' pedals), the heavy-gauge metal claws, and the ease of finding cleats. You'll give up some cornering clearance and add some weight.

Between the two, I can clip into my Speedplays more easily than my Shimanos.

Ooo, those Zeros look cool! :)

And Time ATACs that I use on my road bikes. I have the standard (original) ATACs on the Merida and the new MTB platforms on the touring/randon bike -- the MTB ones are also double sided. But the ATAC cleats are not compatible with SPDs.

I have ATACs on my MTB and I love them. I switched over to them after finally getting fed up with SPDs clogging up from mud.

What amazing response all in under 20 mins :)

Thanks everyone!

My vote goes to the Speedplay road pedals. I've had them on two road bikes since 1995. I also love the eggbeaters w/MTB shoes. They are 4-sided and one of the easiest MTB pedals to get into. I've got them on two road fixes.

Speedplays.
I got used to the float sometime after the first ride.

I thought I just saw an ad for a pedal that Look is making using permission from Crank Brothers. It was the MTB style eggbeaters, but with a platform as well, sorta like the new Time "Z'. That seems like it would be a handy pedal to have for all around use.

Originally posted by gonesh9
I thought I just saw an ad for a pedal that Look is making using permission from Crank Brothers. It was the MTB style eggbeaters, but with a platform as well, sorta like the new Time "Z'. That seems like it would be a handy pedal to have for all around use.

gonesh, I think you have 2 pedals mixed up.

Look has bought permission to use Crank Bros. patent for the eggbeater for their 4X4

http://www.nytro.com/media/look_pd_4x4_lg.jpg

and Crank Bros have come up with the candy SL and the mallet to compete with the Time ATAC and the Time Z

http://www.crankbrothers.com/images/products/straighton_candy_sl.jpg http://www.crankbrothers.com/images/products/straighton_mallet_c.jpg

-Middi-zon

Originally posted by khuon
Other double-sided pedals commonly found on roadbikes include the Bebop (http://www.bebop.com/), EggBeaters (http://www.crankbrothers.com/products/pedals.php) and Coombe (http://www.coombe.com/coombe_pro_pedal_system.html) pedals

Actually....the eggbeaters are 4-sided....

I agree, Speedplays are one of the easiest double-sided road pedals to get into.

Originally posted by Middi-zon
gonesh, I think you have 2 pedals mixed up.

Yes indeed... Thanks for the info. I think the 4 sides is a great idea for MTB, maybe not so much for road, though?

When you add the platforms to Eggbeaters can you still really consider them 4-sided?

I guess not...?